Collins Gulf Falls

 

Saturday after Thanksgiving was a good day to go look at waterfalls. We drove out to Collins Gulf and hiked to Suter Falls and Horsepound Falls.

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TTA After Thanksgiving Hike

We had 22 hikers for the traditional after Thanksgiving Day hike at Old Stone Fort State Park in Manchester. We met at 9:00 am CT in front of the museum and started our hike along the beautiful Duck River. We hiked the Forks of the River Trail, Backbone and Moat Trails. We stopped along to see Blue Hole Falls, Big Falls and Step Falls. After the hike we had lunch in the picnic pavilion. After lunch we hiked the park's newest trail, the Chumbley Woods Trail along the Duck River. Beautiful day for a hike! Hikers were Roberta Adams, Joan Bentley, Tom Bentley, Jay Brain, Joe Campbell, Jeanne Conatser, Barbara Draude, Eleanor Gilchrist, Joe Gonzalez, Susan Gonzalez, Joan Hartvigsen, Tom Hartvigsen, Pete Jacobs, Rene Jacobs, David James, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Susan McLaughlin, LouAnn Partington, Sara Pollard, Judith Rusciolleli, and Pat Thomas.

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Polly Branch TTA

 

Deb led 12 hikers from Plateau, Upper Cumberland, and Soddy Daisy thru the woods, while 3 others left us to start at another trailhead. We got to the first junction which had NO trail signs, only red or blue trail markers. We chose red and kept going crossing two creeks, and following fields that had plowed areas. Not sure if it was fire breaks for controlled burns or feed plots for wildlife. We did make it to an overlook before we turned around to head back to the blue markers. Just a little way down the blue trail we found the signed intersection that told us all about Polly Branch Falls. It sure was pretty to see along with the cascades. We looked for Bee Branch overlook, but the trail ran into the overgrown area and we gave up the search, headed back to the junction where we split up. Some to the main parking lot, the others to the shuttle car the 3 other hikers left at the other parking area. 

It was a beautiful day in the woods. 

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Roaring Creek/Crystal

 

Crystal and I hadn't hiked together in a while. When she had a day off to play, we met up at Roaring Creek Trailhead in Graysville on this cold sunny morning. Hiking along the creek side, we were so into catching up that I missed the turn up the ridge. We had to backtrack to find the blazes. The leaves were crunchy and the sun was warm, by the time we got to the overlook we were stripping out of jackets. We had lunch at the rocky edge of the ridge overlooking Cranmore Cove. Water was flowing good in the creek and at Wildcat Hollow Falls. Beautiful day to spend with my sweet friend.  

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East Lakeshore Trail

 On the way to pick up Samantha and Kaylin, we stopped North of Vonore TN by the Tennessee River and hiked a section of the East Lakeshore Trail. First time we got to check this trail out. We did the Wildcat Point Section with the hike out to the overlook. It looks like quite the popular trail and is supposed to have over 30 miles of trail.

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Savage Gulf

Lora and I had a day to get some hiking in before it rains. We headed to Savage Gulf and hiked the South Rim trail and the Day Loop. It was a beautiful day of hiking.

TTA Big South Fork Campout

Joan put together a fantastic weekend camping and hiking at Big South Fork. We hiked all the trails at Pogue Creek State Natural Area. We also hiked to Angels Falls Overlook and Rock Creek Loop. Fabulous hiking, wonderful weather, and nights clear and star filled. TTA hikers included Craig, Lora, Joan, Ruth, Sara, Marietta, Dawn, Celia, Jane, Patty, and Chuck.

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Middle Creek / Gobblers Knob

Day One: 8.1 

Middle Creek Nature Trail 2.5

Saw Mill trailhead 0.9

Slave Falls Connector trail 1.1

Slave Falls trail 3.6

Day Two: 11.1

Twin Arch Loop 3.5

Charit Creek Lodge Connector 1.0

Hatfield Ridge Trail .9

Gobblers Knob trail 5.7

Day Three: 4.1

Gobblers Knob trail 1.5

Fork Ridge Road 0.7

Saw Mill trailhead 0.9

Middle Creek Nature Trail 1.0

It finally got cool enough for our first backpack of the season. We headed off to the Big South Fork. We drove down Divide Road and started at the Middle Creek trailhead. We started with the Middle Creek Nature Trail which is a beautiful trail with lots of Indian Rock Houses. Then we took the connector trail over to the Sawmill trailhead and continued to the Slave Falls Loop trail. We saw the falls, the Needle's Arch, and then made camp just short of Jake's Place. The temps dropped for the night and we had us a really nice campfire to enjoy the stars next to. We only heard one owl call.

Tuesday we got up and hiked by Jake's Place, the Twin Arches, and the Charit Creek Lodge. We visited with some people that stayed at the Lodge and then we visited with the owner. We took the Charit Creek Lodge Connector trail to the Hatfield Ridge Trail and then on to the Gobblers Knob trail. We hiked this trail to Middle Creek where we made camp for the night. We got a good fire going and listened to a few different owls. 

Wednesday we got up and finished the Gobblers Knob trail. We walk the Fork Ridge road back to the Sawmill trailhead and took the Middle Creek Nature trail back to the car. Another wonderful backpack.

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